Aston Villa Football Club News

• Nickname:The Villains
• Founded:1874
• Manager:Alex McLeish

• Ground:Villa Park
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O'Neill assurance for Heskey

16 Oct 2009 - 07:31:29

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Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has drawn a line under the Emile Heskey exit story after assuring the striker that he still remains a key part of his squad.

Heskey held talks with O'Neill on Thursday following his return from England duty after stories emerged during the international break that he was unhappy at Villa Park.

The former Liverpool and Wigan Athletic striker was quoted saying he was considering leaving the Midlands club in January in order to protect his World Cup place.

But after subsequently claiming he was misquoted and pledging his future to Villa, O'Neill now believes the issue is now closed.

Heskey has started just one Premier League game so far this season but will get chances as the campaign progresses, according to O'Neill.

"Interestingly, I have a bit of sympathy for Emile. We have spoken and I understand how these things come out," O'Neill told the club's official website.

"I have been in this business for a long, long time and Emile is not the sort of person to be causing ructions at a football club. I have known him for a long, long time.

"He's very quiet and if he's got anything to say to me, he will knock on my door, no problems with that. So I think a lot of things got blown out of proportion.

"However, having said that, I can understand the situation where people are going to ask him questions with the World Cup next year, knowing he is hopefully first choice for England but not playing regularly for Villa.

"Simply put, Emile is a key part of our squad. He's just not starting the games this minute.

"Players will get their chances to play here. There's a long time to Christmas, Easter and certainly to the start of the World Cup. A lot can happen in that time.

"But getting back to the original point, Emile is very important to us, very important.

"At this minute, we want to gather a squad together but as you gather a squad together, the almost inevitable problems creep in - like trying to keep everyone happy who doesn't start."